Lion Links: 5/25/20

Merry Memorial Day Monday morning, Mane Landers! I’m not sure what you did this weekend, but I did some dad stuff and got the kids an eight-foot inflatable pool. Fun ensued and plenty of splashing occurred. OK, fine, it was also for me. It gets hot in Florida, and the idea of soaking in a pool on the back porch while sipping a beverage greatly appeals to me. Besides, it also helps with social distancing if I’m able to do very small laps in the backyard rather than joining others at a public pool. Let’s get to the links!

Dest Considers Next Move; USMNT Players in Action

United States Men’s National Team fullback Sergino Dest currently plays for AFC Ajax in the Eredivisie. Of course, that might be a temporary situation according to Dest’s Instagram. The young American posted a photo of himself in a Barcelona top. He has been linked with a possible move to the Spanish giant, and did nothing to dispel those rumors with that post. Of course, with no transfers taking place right now, it’s all just speculation. Dest wasn’t the only American making news, as several MLS and American players were in action in the Bundesliga this weekend.

New York Sports Will Return

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo authorized New York sports teams to resume training sessions with appropriate safety protocols. This opens up the opportunity for both New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls to get back in the swing of things. It won’t be long until they join the other training MLS clubs, which now includes the Montreal Impact after they received the green light. Cuomo also allowed for matches to take place in empty venues. Of course, when matches will return to New York will depend on the plans implemented by MLS.

Bundesliga Results

Here we are in week two of the return of soccer, with the Bundesliga providing the only top level competition at the moment. Bayern Munich continued its push for another title with a 5-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, and Borussia Dortmund kept pace with a 2-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg. Of course, the players and coaches of the Bundlesiga aren’t the only ones having to deal with the challenges around the shutdowns, as this commentator found out.

La Liga Nearly Ready to Return

As the rest of the world slowly returns to normal, the Spanish top league decided to resume play in June. Of course, officials said the return will be in line with public regulations for safety of the staff and players. The league has been shut down since March 12 and Barcelona sits two points ahead of Real Madrid. Much like MLS, the clubs have returned to training at their individual facilities. La Liga follows the Bundesliga in bringing back soccer to the masses.

Free Kicks

• Here are some really cool concept jerseys from former Lion Dennis Chin’s personal collection.

• If you’ve ever been frustrated by Orlando City’s short corners, here is a great look into corner kicks and their success rate.
• The Red Bulls are reportedly interested in West Ham forward Veron Parkes, a rising talent in the European youth landscape.
• With her move to Utah Royals FC held up due to the pandemic, German midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsán might be staying in Europe and joining Manchester City.

That will do it for today. Stay safe, be considerate of others, and go Lions!